Addison inaparente: causa de drástica reducción del requerimiento de insulina en una paciente con diabetes, tiroiditis de Hashimoto y enfermedad de Basedow / Unapparent Addison: cause of striking reduction of insulin requirements in a patient with diabetes, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Basedow's disease

ABSTRACT

We report a 30 years old woman with sporadic poliglandular autoimmune syndrome type II, first seen with an insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and a Grave-Basedow disease that became spontaneously with positive antimicrosomal antibodies. Six years later she presented with persistent vomiting and remarkable reduction in insulin requirements. She had low basal and stimulated cortisol levels and the diagnosis of severe adrenal failure was reached. A CT scan showed normal adrenal glands, she dis not have cutaneous hyperpigmentation nor evidences of mineralcorticoid deficit. A selective autoimmune damage of the fascicular zone was assumed but a selective damage of ACTH producing pituitary cells cannot be discarded. The importance of investigating adrenal function in cases of unexplained reduction of insulin requirements is emphasized